§ Mr. Hal Millerasked the Secretary of State for Transport whether, following the conclusion in the Transport Committee's report on road maintenance that 10 327W per cent. real increase in expenditure on local road maintenance is likely to be required over several years, he will make more funds available to local authorities to prevent the planned 1.2 per cent. cut in maintenance expenditure for 1983–84.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMy right hon. Friend is considering the recommendations in the Transport Committee's report. As part of the transport supplementary grant settlement for 1983–84 he accepted expenditure of £831.2 million for local road maintenance. This very substantial sum is an increase of 5.6 per cent. on the comparable provision for 1982–83.